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Tweak says, "What sanity?"

Merlin (magicalsecrets) wrote in colligo_threads,
@ 2010-09-09 00:13:00

Entry tags:

james sirius potter, merlin

WHO: Female!Merlin and Jamie Potter
WHAT: Awkward Coffee?
WHEN: Noonish
WHERE: Nearby Starbucks.
RATING: PG
STATUS: Incomplete

Merlin was really beginning to wonder if coffee was really the best idea right now. Maybe tea, one of those iced drinks, or something that would not make him even more fidgety then he already was. Tugging at his clothes, pushing his hair back, twiddling his smaller fingers, and tucking his stupid long girl hair back some more. Morgana had helped him get some clothes that fit right, though he didn't appreciate how snug the jeans were around his hips, or the completely different and uncomfortable feeling of girls underclothes. The plain blue tank-top was nice enough though, he supposed, softer then most things he owned. Morgana had attempted to get him accessories and a dress and other things that Merlin just glared at miserably.

Now he was being treated to coffee by another guy who had randomly complimented him on the boards. Granted, this was Harry's son. Harry was very nice, and James was probably just being friendly, trying to make him feel better about it all which was appreciated. He stood outside the Starbucks, eventually being distracted from the still irritating fact that he was a girl by the cheerful music playing over the speakers, singing under his breath, and tapping his toes to the beat.

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awesomestpotter
2010-09-09 04:53 am UTC (link)

This was probably five different kinds of bad idea. Which, James supposed alright. Because he had made a name for himself - back at Hogwarts - for making bad idea work. Or so he thought, in his own opinion. And he could make this work. Not that there was anything to make work. It was simply coffee. With a female Merlin.

The thought just made James' head hurt.

The entire situation had swerved very quickly from funny to simply disturbing when he had seen the female Albus Dumbledore on the message board. It was bad bloody enough that Dumbledore was likely younger than he was. Yet for him to be female - not that there was ANYTHING wrong with females, it was just extremely odd - sort of boggled the mind. The fact that he had made a pretty female couldn't even be thought about for very long because the man, woman?, looked far too much like his sister for it not to be just uncomfortable.

His mind had a complete and utter 'spaz attack' when his eyes had settled on Merlin. He had thought Merlin an unfortunate, yet adorable, looking fellow when his father had pointed him out at the wedding. He had wanted to talk to him - not because he was adorable - but because he was Merlin. And knew King ... Prince Arthur! However, James did contain a semblance of decorum and hadn't hounded the poor man at the wedding. A) Because James had been playing and took his duty to good music highly seriously and B)Because Merlin seemed content to glare at Sirius. Not to mention James hadn't wanted to stick out in the Merlin's mind as the hundredth person who went 'Oh, hey! You're Merlin!!! And you're young'.

He had a plan to be highly impressive and to get a chance to meet prince Arthur. Which he ruined by being simultaneously gobsmacked and disturbed about just how lovely Merlin was as a female. Ethereal even. If the bloody word wasn't just so damn over-used. He had completely embarrassed himself and yet some how - it was a natural talent really - ended up with a date for coffee.

Well. Not a date - date. After all it was Merlin. And this -- just further made his brain hurt.

James was rather certain there were Heads of Houses rolling in their graves over this or some such.

He approached Merlin the epitome of calmness. Most of his worries seeming to sort of melt to the background when he spotted ... him-her.

S-he was really, really, really adorable.

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magicalsecrets
2010-09-09 05:25 am UTC (link)

Merlin most certainly wasn't singing 'Bulletproof' to the pavement, or letting his hips absently sway to the beat when James walked up. Of course, even if he had it stopped once he realized someone was standing in front of him. His gaze flickered upwards, recognizing James and flashing him a smile. Now that he had a better look, he did remember him better from the wedding. James had played the music, which he recalled being pretty good despite having been focused on other things at the time.

"Hello." He said simply, shoving his hands in his pockets, not exactly sure what to say for a minute. There hadn't actually been a particular reason for this impromptu date. Not that it was a date. Merlin could almost feel his ears starting to turn pink at the thought because that definitely wasn't what this was. It was just another normal thing that was made weird because he was suddenly the wrong gender. Sometimes he hated this place.

"So. Coffee." Merlin pulled open the door. "I'll probably just get one of those fruit tea things though. I haven't really relaxed at all since this happened and coffee would probably just make it worse. You don't have to pay for mine, by the way. I mean, it was nice to offer, but you really don't have to if you don't want to." For someone who wasn't sure what to say, he sure rambled a lot.

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awesomestpotter
2010-09-09 05:38 am UTC (link)

James was actually really gallant. His grandfather's teasing comment might have seemed a bit surprised when he offered to beat blokes away from female-Teddy (and, yes, he had been mostly serious) but he shouldn't have been. James was a former Gryffindor after-all. And his Nana had taught him well. Somewhere after being an arse, a pillock, and horribly egostical, James managed to be quite gallant. Noble even. Which was why he managed to bite back his snicker and stifle his grin when he approached the swaying, singing female.

He was also gallant, noble, and stubborn enough to be offended when Merlin turned down his offer to pay. Insulted, was the word. His frown would have stayed in place if not for the rambling. It was odd that Merlin rambled. Then again it was odd that Merlin didn't have a beard and was currently a female. James' frown quickly became a bemused expression, brows puckered slightly before smoothing out. "I offered. I wouldn't have offered if I hadn't wanted to do so." Except where he would have. "But alright, one of those fruit tea thingies. Are they any good?" He might give one a go. Not that James really needed Merlin's recommendation. He was just making conversation and was actually curious on what the former male had to say. In truth, James ate and drink near anything, no matter what anyone else thought of what he was putting into his mouth.

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magicalsecrets
2010-09-09 06:07 am UTC (link)

"Okay. Thank you then." It wasn't often that people bought him things, even something little like drinks. Morgana, Gwen, and Arthur maybe - but that was different. He'd only just met James, and the amused look the other was giving him did nothing to help the slowly spreading blush. Merlin was obviously considerably more awkward and less impressive then his ancient, fictional counterpart. And now he didn't even have the option of growing a beard to make it slightly better.

"The passion iced tea lemonade is good. It's actually the only one I've tried. Normally I just get hot chocolate." Merlin didn't really need coffee any day, not just today, and didn't particularly like the taste anyways unless it was in those frappuccino drinks.

"I heard you play at the wedding. You're very good. Did you write all the songs?" He asked curiously, attempting to make conversation as well. Merlin didn't know much about music except for the kinds he liked and the kinds he didn't. The fact that he listened to a cassette player rather then an MP3 probably proved that.

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awesomestpotter
2010-09-10 12:48 pm UTC (link)

"You're welcome." James said with a small grin. He looked at Merlin as (s)he spoke, his eyes cutting to the menu afterward. "Doesn't quite seem like a hot chocolate moment." He mused, before shrugging slightly and nodding. "Alright then. I'll give it a go. Never heard of passion iced tea lemonade. Sounds interesting." The words were stated sincerely, even though in James' opinion that was a whole lot of different things for a drink to be.

At Merlin's question a full blown grin shot up and spread across James' face, he nodded eagerly, causing some of his hair to fall over his face. "Cheers! No, not not all of them. Thought it might be nice to throw in a couple of wedding classics, a few power ballads. Both muggle and wizarding. However, three of them were mine. I'm glad you liked it. My playing." Not that, in James' mind, most people - who were not Al - didn't like his music but it was still nice to be told. "Are you into music?" Wanting to know if Merlin liked music or if he just liked music. "It's alright if you're not."

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magicalsecrets
2010-09-10 05:41 pm UTC (link)

Merlin push his hair back behind (still slightly big) ears and smiled, pleased that he picked a good topic considering the way James lit up when he answer. The question kind of confused him, but he nodded all the same. Merlin liked music, but he didn't realize there were different levels of liking music. He'd never attempted to play music himself if that was Sirius meant.

"I don't know a lot about music, but I like it. It's better then what Camelot had." Not that it was hard to beat Camelot in the musical department. Even Vanilla Ice was better then Greensleeves type ballads. A lot of this music was so much more upbeat too, which he liked.

"I have this little cassette player at home, and a bunch of tapes." He had a couple shoeboxes full of cassettes that he liked to listen to on his way to work. He knew some of the band names and songs, but that was pretty much the extent of his musical knowledge.

Merlin ordered their drinks, hoping he didn't suggest something James would hate, and moved over to grab their drinks when they finished and a table for them while James paid. When he sat down, there was some of the fidgeting he'd been doing all day. Uncrossing and crossing his legs, tugging down at his shirt edges, and sipping at his lemonade.

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awesomestpotter
2010-09-11 02:33 am UTC (link)

His- ... her ears were huge! Were the first words that entered James' mind. His eyes, nevertheless, managed to be caught by the smile on Merlin's face and his own widened in response. If it became slightly goofy, James ignored it. Merlin had such a nice smile. Huge ears. But a really nice smile.

James laughed, completely amused. "I would certainly hope so. As wicked as having a lute would be, I say that the electric guitar would beat it hands down." Laughter dying down but grin remaining, James said companionably, "Then we'll just have to start your musical education. You don't need to learn how to play anything, though we could try if you like. Perhaps you have some secret latent talent. However, I'll definitely develop your ear." James was definitely looking forward to it. Just not knowing a lot about music was a sad existence. Especially since James' mind was painting a stark picture, that wasn't being helped much (though it was just a little bit) by the 'bunch of tapes' comment.

"Any particular ... tape that you like?" Cassette players were such a thing in the past for James. Not only because he was a wizard and spent most of his time in the wizarding world, but because literally where he was from, they were a thing of the past. He was from about seventeen years into the future.

James paid and followed Merlin to some seats. Sitting down, he grabbed his drink. He sipped, "Hey! This is real good." He said, taking some more.

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magicalsecrets
2010-09-12 01:30 am UTC (link)

"Without question." He nodded in agreement, seeing no contest between a lute and a guitar. Merlin wasn't sure if he'd be any good at actually playing an instrument, but it was nice of James to offer. He was a little interested. After all, he rarely passed up the chance to learn something new. "I'd like that."

He bit his lip, thinking about the different bands he'd listened too. "Um...I like Heart and the guitar on this Jimi Hendrix tape." Merlin answered. He knew tapes were out of date by a long shot, but they were advanced as far as he was concerned. Besides, Arthur had given him the walkman so he was happy with it. As for his music choices, he really wasn't particular. There wasn't much he didn't like. Too heavy metal wasn't his favorite, but he'd listened to pretty much everything.

The small, unsure smile he'd had brightened considerably as James tasted the drink and approved. Merlin took a sip of his own and nodded. "I'm glad you like it. I would've felt bad if I'd suggested something you hated."

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awesomestpotter
2010-09-12 01:58 am UTC (link)

"Brilliant." James said, estatic. His excitement very easy to hear. He'd be getting to teach Merlin something. How excellent was that?He doubted that there were many, if any, who coud be saying that. It made James a bit warm that he would be getting to teach one of the greastest wizards that ever lived something that as so very important to him. Even though said wizard was currently a pretty girl that was typically a man much younger than James always imagined Merlin looking.

The eldest Potter son shot Merlin a look that was amused, nevertheless, approving at the mention of Heart. He liked Heart. The he found it funny that Merlin liked Heat. A bit because he was currently a bird and they were huge with the female crowd. Not that that diminished them being excellent musicians. James just found it funny. The expression shifted completely, bright and happy at the mention of Jimi Hendrix. One would think that saying Jimi Hendrix would be so obvius, since one shouldn't contest how fucking ace the man was with a guitar. However, there were actually people who didn't like the man. Imbeciles. It pleased James that not only the other male - who was currently female - owned a Jimi Hendrix tape but that he actually liked him. "The man is my electric guitar idol." Among some but Jimi was definiely on the list.

James' smile tugged at the corner when Merlin's own brightened, relieved that s/h was relaxing. "That's sweet of you." He stated.

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magicalsecrets
2010-09-12 02:21 am UTC (link)

Merlin was almost a little embarrassed by how excited James seemed to be at the idea of teaching him. He'd never had such an eager teacher - well, unless you count Gaius whenever Merlin looked a little too long at one of the physicians books. This was different though. It would be fun lessons, not some endless lecture on healing salves and potions. That was for later though...

The amused grin was lost on Merlin. The gender of the artist made little difference to him, and he knew nothing about either group except that they played good music. Who could resist Crazy on You or All Along the Watchtower? Of course, Merlin enjoyed Disney soundtracks just as much, so James would do well not to put too much stock in his first two choices. "He is very good. Can you play his songs too? They sound like they'd be kind of hard."

The smaller 'girl' had been a faint shade of pink almost the whole time. It didn't help being called sweet. Merlin had relaxed a little though, leaning forward to rest his arms on the table, and just shrugged a little. "Not really. I mean, it was your treat. I just suggested. Thank you, by the way. I don't think I said."

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awesomestpotter
2010-09-12 07:12 am UTC (link)

James seemed to puff up a little bit, okay quite a lot, as he nodded. "It took some doing but I can play a few. I've been taking guitar lessons since I was nine." If James was capable of modesty he would have admitted that he, of course, wasn't anywhere as good as the great. Yet it was a very rare moment when he managed to be. Which was why he was going with going the self-pride.

"You didn't have to care so much." He countered. "You already did." He said with a small smile, "However, you're quite welcome." Leanig forwad a bit more as well, he asked, "If not music, then what do you enjoy?"

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magicalsecrets
2010-09-13 02:45 am UTC (link)

Merlin really wasn't concerned with modesty. That James could play the guitar like Hendrix at all was impressive to him, even if it wasn't perfect. "You could show me sometime. I could treat." He suggested, always eager to make friends. It only seemed fair, after all, that he return the favor and get drinks or something, and he was sure James would be happy to show off and play.

"Oh, well..." He wasn't sure what to say to that. Maybe he didn't have to, but he did all the same. Merlin shrugged and just moved on to the next question posed to him. "Um - I don't know. I like to explore the shops. I read a lot too. There are so many different kinds of magic here. I sort of had to teach myself back home, and here there are people and books everywhere..."

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